Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, summoned Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, to the Group of Seven summit in May and unveiled the details of a new Indo-Pacific project.
On a two-day visit to India, Kishida expressed his desire to advance the idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific, a Tokyo-led plan for increased security and economic cooperation intended to restrain Beijing’s increasing aggression. It comprises Japan’s support for marine security, the provision of equipment and boats for the coast guard’s patrol boats, as well as other infrastructural cooperation.
It is in line with Tokyo Japan’s new national security strategy, which was announced in December and calls for the deployment of long-range cruise missiles to improve its capacity to retaliate as well as the strategic use of development aid in support of like-minded states.
India, which is leading the Group of 20 industrialized and developing nations this year, believes that good relations with Japan are crucial for maintaining peace in the area. India, Japan, the United States, and Australia make up the Indo-Pacific alliance collectively referred to as the Quad.
Kishida and Modi discussed measures to improve their bilateral partnership as well as funds for development and food security. The two presidents agreed to cooperate closely in addressing a number of world problems, including the escalating prices of energy and food supplies that have worsened since Russia’s war in Ukraine.
According to Kishida, Modi agreed to attend the G-7 summit of major industrial nations in May in Hiroshima after receiving his invitation. Later, he told reporters that he would also be inviting seven more heads of state from non-G-7 countries, including South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in order to further strengthen ties between South Korea and Japan and to bring Seoul closer to other significant players on the region’s geopolitical map.
In his statement, Kishida asserted that he told Modi that he hoped to address issues at the summit, including upholding the rules-based international order and fostering relations with the larger international community, which includes nations outside the G-7 and the “Global South,” which is a term for developing nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The two leaders also discussed their top priorities for the G-7 and G-20 presidencies, respectively, according to Modi in a speech.
Japan holds the G-7 chair in 2023, and it has made efforts to strengthen relations with developing nations in order to set the stage for a successful summit.
According to Kishida, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has disturbed the foundation of international order, and its effects on fertilizer prices and food access are felt worldwide, including in the Indo-Pacific area.
Cooperation between the G-7 and the G-20 is more important in order to address the numerous difficulties that the global community is now facing. Kishida stated that other urgent issues include energy and climate change, as well as equitable and transparent development funds.
India and Japan have strong commercial ties. The value of trade between the two was $20.57 billion in the fiscal year 2021–2022. Japan made $32 billion worth of investments in India between 2000 and 2019. Japan has also contributed to India’s infrastructure development, notably a high-speed train proposal.
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